July 13, 2022  |  12:10 pm

A Kansas couple was arrested by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office after drugs and a stolen gun were found during a traffic stop earlier this month.

At approximately 8 p.m. on July 6, a deputy with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black Dodge Charger with a Kansas license plate. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on Interstate 12, near Highway 59 in Mandeville, and the traffic stop was conducted for violations of L.R.S. 47:508 Expired Registration and L.R.S. 32:79 Driving on Roadway Laned for Traffic.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Johnathan M. Hutchings (DOB 11/06/1995) The vehicle was also occupied by a front seat passenger and the registered owner of the vehicle, Rebecca R. Gill (DOB 11/05/1998). 

During the course of the traffic stop, a search of the Dodge Charger was conducted after Hutchings admitted that it contained marijuana.  Upon searching the vehicle, the following items were located:

Approximately 33 grams of suspected raw marijuana
Approximately 1.2 grams of suspected marijuana THC wax
Approximately 8 grams of suspected psilocin mushrooms
Approximately 0.4 grams of suspected lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
Approximately 37 suspected alprazolam 1mg and 2mg pills
Eighteen suspected acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate 325mg/5mg pills
One suspected clonazepam 1mg pill
One suspected brexiprazole (Rexulti) 3mg pill
Three marijuana smoking devices identified as drug paraphernalia
One Charter Arms Undercover .38 caliber revolver
One Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol

While conducting the roadside investigation, it was determined that these items were jointly possessed by both Hutchings and Gill as they traveled from their home in Overland Park, Kansas, to Florida. 

In addition, it was discovered that Hutchings had a full-extradition warrant through Jefferson City, Mo., for a parole violation of receiving stolen property. 

Hutchings was placed under arrest and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following charges:

L.R.S. 40:966C – Possession of a Schedule I CDS (Marijuana)
L.R.S. 40:1023 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
L.R.S. 40:966C – Possession of a Schedule I CDS (Psilocin Mushrooms)
L.R.S. 40:966C – Possession of a Schedule I CDS (LSD)
L.R.S. 40:967C – Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Hydrocodone)
L.R.S. 40:969C – Possession of a Schedule IV CDS (Clonazepam)
L.R.S. 40:969C – Possession of a Schedule IV CDS (Alprazolam)
L.R.S. 40:1060.13 – Possession of a Legend Drug without a Prescription (Brexiprazole)
L.R.S. 14:95E – Illegal Carrying of a Weapon while in the Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
L.R.S. 47:508 – Expired Registration
L.R.S. 32:79 – Driving on Roadway Laned for Traffic
L.R.S. 32:415 – Operating a Vehicle while License is Suspended
L.R.S. 14:00 – Fugitive

Gill was placed under arrest and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on the following charges:

L.R.S. 40:966C – Possession of a Schedule I CDS (Marijuana)
L.R.S. 40:1023 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
L.R.S. 40:966C – Possession of a Schedule I CDS (Psilocin Mushrooms)
L.R.S. 40:966C – Possession of a Schedule I CDS (LSD)
L.R.S. 40:967C – Possession of a Schedule II CDS (Hydrocodone)
L.R.S. 40:969C – Possession of a Schedule IV CDS (Clonazepam)
L.R.S. 40:969C – Possession of a Schedule IV CDS (Alprazolam)
L.R.S. 40:1060.13 – Possession of a Legend Drug without a Prescription (Brexiprazole)
L.R.S. 14:95E – Illegal Carrying of a Weapon while in the Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.

Detectives later discovered that the 9mm pistol that was located inside the Dodge Charger was reported as stolen through Johnson County, Missouri.   As a result, arrest warrants were obtained for Hutchings and Gill for an additional charge of L.R.S. 14:69.1 Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms.